Horsetail – Equisetum hyemale

Horsetail is a non-flowering, evergreen, ornamental “grass” that craves shade and moisture. This distinctive plant has the rare ability to thrive in a wide range of soils, especially boggy, poorly drained soils that tend to pose a problem for most desert adapted trees and shrubs. It can be submerged in water along edges of ponds or water features, and does well in containers, where it serves as a finely-textured vertical accent. In Tucson, Horsetail will usually stay green year-round, becoming darker green in winter and standing out dramatically against the surrounding dormant landscape. Though referred to as a “reed” or “grass”, this plant produces spores rather than flowers with pollen, which makes it more like a fern! Height: 3 – 4 feet Width: 1 – 6+ feet Bloom color: n/a Flowering season: n/a USDA minimum zone: 4 Cold hardiness: -20° F